Distribution and spatial genetic structure of European wildcat in France

Abstract

Given the problem of hybridization with domestic cats, there is a growing need to identify populations of the European wildcat Felis silvestris silvestris in order to protect the genetic integrity of this subspecies. In this paper, we use known locations of observations of wildcats or recovered carcasses to reassess the distribution of the wildcat in France and, in cases where carcasses were collected, we use both phenotypic and molecular genetic analyses to distinguish wildcats from hybrids with domestic cats. Spatially explicit multivariate analysis of wildcat' genotypes was then performed to define genetic units. Our study confirms the presence of wildcats in a large area of c. 155 000 km 2 , suggestive of a range of expansion, and divided into two clearly distinct and unconnected areas -the Pyrenees and the north-eastern part of France. However, European wildcat populations may be decreasing in the French Pyrenees, whereas the north-eastern part represents the main area (MA) of wildcat presence. This extension does not appear to be primarily due to hybrids, as both wildcats and hybrids were located throughout the MA. In addition, we found that genetic diversity of wildcats in the MA is remarkably high, suggesting that French populations are not threatened by a lack of genetic diversity. Furthermore, wildcats of the MA are structured into two genetically distinct populations that are contiguous and probably extend into Germany to form the largest area of wildcat presence in Europe and an area of major interest for their conservation. Our study calls for localized examination of the feasibility and usefulness of wildlife corridors to enhance connectivity between the different populations, thereby allowing sufficient levels of immigration and gene flow within the regional meta-population to ensure the long-term viability of these populations. Animal Conservation. Print ISSN 1367-9430 L. Say et al. Distribution and genetic structure in wildcat Animal Conservation 15 (2012) 18-27

Large-scale genetic census of an elusive carnivore, the European wildcat (Felis s. silvestris)

“…The differentiation between the two wildcat clusters obtained in this study is lower than the reported F ST values by Eckert et al (2010), whereas our sampling is representative of the whole continuous distribution range, and we therefore believe that Eckert et al's F ST value is likely over-estimating genetic differentiation due to incomplete sampling (Schwartz and McKelvey 2009). Compared to other European wildcat populations, our observed F ST value is higher than the observed genetic differentiation of two bottlenecked wildcat populations in France (Say et al 2012), but in the same range of two Italian populations, which showed a divergence time similar to the end of the Last Glacial Maximum (Mattucci et al 2013). Transferred to our study, the central and western lineage might therefore display the recolonisation from different refugia: the central lineage from the Carpathian/ Alpine region, whereas for the western lineage the Iberian Peninsula is the most likely refugia (Sommer and Nadachowski 2006).…”

“…Wildcats were subdivided into a western and a central cluster and showed a level of genetic diversity which was in the range of previous studies on wildcats in Germany (Eckert et al, 2010) and France (Say et al 2012), which does not indicate strong inbreeding or severe recent bottlenecks due to human impact, like deforestation and fragmentation of suitable habitat. The deviations from HWE in our study are likely due to the Wahlund effect (Wahlund 1928), caused by an underlying subtle substructure over large distances.…”

“…Unlike wolves, lynx and brown bears, the European wildcat was never completely eradicated from western central Europe and survived heavy persecution in several low mountain regions, e.g., the Harz Mountains, the Palatinate Forest, Hunsrück, Taunus and Eifel Mountains in Germany and the Ö sling region in Luxembourg. Since the second half of the 20th century, regional recovery of the fragmented populations and range expansion was detected, but with unclear evidence for low-density presence or even long-term persistence in many formerly occupied regions (Knapp et al 2002;Müller-Using 1962;Piechocki 1986;Raimer 2006;Say et al 2012). Next to Germany and Luxembourg, there are wildcat populations in France (Say et al 2012) and Switzerland (Nussberger et al 2014), whereas for Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands only scattered evidence for wildcat persistence can be found (Dekker et al 2015; Le Proux de la Rivière and Libois 2006;Slotta-Bachmayr and Friembichler 2010).…”

“…As wildcats need to be monitored regularly by EU law (European Council Directive 92/43/EEC, Appendix IV), funds need to be allocated for this purpose. While traditional wildcat monitoring data is based on direct sightings, expert questionnaires, live trapping and roadkill collections (Birlenbach and Klar 2009;Oliveira et al 2008;Say et al 2012;Simon et al 2005), a recent noninvasive monitoring approach using hairs collected with so-called lure stick hair traps has been established allowing for standardized large scale wildcat assessments Steyer et al 2013). The lure stick method enables a DNA-based distinction between wild and domestic cat, which promises to solve the long-standing difficulty of safe discrimination under field conditions and the virtual impossibility to safely identify hybrids even under the presence of fresh roadkill material or live-trapped cats (Daniels et al 1998;Eichholzer 2010;Krüger et al 2009).…”

Monitoring European wildcat Felis silvestris populations using scat surveys in central Spain: are population trends related to wild rabbit dynamics or to landscape features?

“…Thus, for the European wildcat, being a legally protected species and of conservation concern imply that further studies on its biology are crucial (Stahl and Artois 1991;Council of Europe 1993;Lozano and Malo 2012) to guarantee improved diagnoses of conservation problems and identify potential tools for preserving wildcats in Europe (Stahl and Artois 1991;McOrist and Kitchener 1994;). Indeed, in recent years, a significant increase in the number of studies on wildcats has taken place, especially in genetics (e.g., Pierpaoli et al 2003; Lecis et al 2006;Oliveira et al 2008;Hertwig et al 2009;Say et al 2012), morphology (e.g., Yamaguchi et al 2004;Kitchener et al 2005;Krüger et al 2009), trophic ecology (e.g., Malo et al 2004;Biró et al 2005;Lozano et al 2006;Piñeiro and Barja 2011), and habitat preferences (e.g., Lozano et al 2003Biró et al 2004;Klar et al 2008;Monterroso et al 2009;Lozano 2010).…”